Three things got buried this week - Arsenal and Manchester United in Europe and the debate about the identity of the best player in the world.

But before I go on to join the praise for Lionel Messi, let's lay a couple of other things to rest.

Though there are no English clubs in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2003, there's nothing fundamentally wrong with English football. We've still got the most attractive league in Europe and I bet the viewing figures for the Lyon v Bayern semi will bear that out.

Nor is this, as the Irish pundit Eamonn Dunphy is claiming, the end of an era at Manchester United.

Yes, the old guard I played with in the youth team - Giggs, Scholes, Neville - are moving ever closer to the end of their brilliant careers. But in the gloom of Wednesday night, there were bright glimmers of hope.

I was shocked that Sir Alex Ferguson started with Darron Gibson, but he was vindicated with a superb first goal and an excellent performance. I've never fancied Nani as a Manchester United player, but I do now after his magnificent effort. And before his sending off - which, sorry Sir Alex, was totally deserved -I thought Rafael was arguably the best player on the park.

So there is plenty of life in United yet, especially when they get Wayne Rooney fit and healthy again.

But even a 100% Rooney can?t match up to Barcelona's magical Messi. There is no question for me that right now he is No.1 on the planet thanks to his balance, movement and eye for goal.

I said a couple of weeks ago that Arsenal had to man-mark Messi so tightly they virtually put a man in his shorts. After watching him this week, I don't know if that would be close enough!

Yes, Arsenal could and should have niggled Messi with a more physical approach. They would have done in the days of Vieira, Petit and the great Arsenal midfield I had so many battles with.

Trying to outfootball them was never going to work, especially with the key injuries Arsene Wenger's club have suffered, yet I don't think any club in the world could cope with Barcelona right now.

I was amazed to see read the stats on Tuesday night and see that over the two legs Xabi made 245 passes and gave the ball away only 15 times.

Couple that with the brilliant moment when Pedro gave the ball away in the Arsenal penalty area and chased 70 yards to win it back and you see why there is no shame in losing to the best team in the world.

But just as with United, there are plus points for Wenger. Theo Walcott is now a cert to go to the World Cup and Niklas Bendtner is beginning to make a believer of me.

Add in a revitalised Chelsea - and possibly new blood in the shape of Manchester City or Spurs -and I can't see the semi-final shutout happening again next year.